Adams Scores Career-High 22 Points In @RazorbackWBB Win

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE — McKenzie Adams scored a career-high 22 points to lead three Razorbacks in double-digit scoring, as the University of Arkansas women’s basketball team (11-0) earned an 81-43 win over Tulsa (3-3) inside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark., on Tuesday night. A near perfect 6-for-7 from three-point range, the freshman paced 60 percent team shooting from beyond the arc for Arkansas. Eleven different Razorbacks saw playing time in the win, as each contributed and scored at least two points. “She’s a shooter,” Tom Collen said of Adams. “I’ve been watching her play for years now. She’s doing a great job for us with that. We’re going to need that from her moving forward into SEC play.” Jessica Jackson also reached double digits for the 10th time in 11 games this season (14 points), while Keira Peak added 10 points, two rebounds and two steals. It was a back-and-forth affair over the first five minutes of play, with four different lead changes and both teams shooting above 50 percent from the floor. Four of five Razorback starters scored, as Jackson led the way with four early points on perfect shooting. Tulsa held the early 10-9 lead at the first media timeout. The defensive effort of the Razorbacks sparked an ensuing 18-0 run, as TU went 0-for-11 from the field over the stretch and also committed 10 turnovers. Meanwhile, UA continued its hot shooting at 46 percent, as Jackson, Peak and Jhasmin Bowen combined to score 19 of the team’s 29 points. UA led 29-16 with four minutes remaining in the half, as the Golden Hurricanes were held 8:17 without points. Its NCAA-leading scoring defense beginning to settle in, Arkansas took a 39-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Razorbacks also held up their end offensively, shooting 50 percent in the first half. Jackson led all scorers with 11 points at the break on 5-for-6 shooting, including three rebounds. Peak began to find her rhythm to start the second half offensively, reaching double figures at 10 points with 15:58 left to play. Adams and Jackson joined Peak in double-digit scoring, as UA extended its lead to 47-27. The Golden Hurricanes continued to struggle against the Razorbacks’ defense, shooting just 29 percent as a team. Adams and the Razorbacks began launching from beyond the arc midway through the second half, led by Adams’ 85.7 percent three-point shooting. Behind 66.7 percent (4-for-6) shooting as a unit from downtown, UA saw its lead swell to a 30-point lead at 61-30 with 12:19 to play. Ranked fifth in the NCAA for field-goal percentage defense, UA held the Golden Hurricanes to just 25 percent shooting on the night, including 1-for-5 shooting from three-point range in the second half. TU managed just 23 second-half points, as the Razorbacks rolled to the 81-43 final score. Arkansas breaks for final exams, but returns to the court Dec. 20 when it welcomes Tennessee Tech to Bud Walton Arena. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on Twitter.